Low Voter Turnout Expected At Tuesday’s Primary

NORWALK (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk is urging Californians to hit the polls for Tuesday’s primary amid concerns a mere 20% of eligible voters will show up to cast their ballots.

Although more than 230,000 vote-by-mail ballots have been returned to the Registrar’s office, Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan told KCAL9’s Dave Lopez voters shouldn’t expect a stampede at polling places.

Logan could not predict just how low voter turnout would be, but said he’s hoping 20% of the 4.8 million eligible voters will go to the polls.

“It looks like we’re going to have a low-turnout election,” he said.

“Tomorrow, the weather’s going to be good. It’s going to be a beautiful day to get out and vote. We want to every eligible citizen to do that.”

The vote-by-mail ballots will counted after 8 p.m. on election night, just after the polls close.

But Lopez reports the 230,000 absentee ballots returned to the Registrar accounts for a mere 15% of the 1.5 million requested.

“I am doing my part. I wish more would,” one woman, who did not wish to be named, said.

Sarah Martin will be out of town Tuesday. She came to the Registrar’s office to vote early.

“I know a lot of people who are not even registered to vote,” she said.

There are many key issues for the voters to decide: who will be the sheriff; there are two County Board of Supervisors seats up for grabs; and who will be the candidates for governor in November. All candidates names appear on one ballot for Tuesday’s open primary, and the two with the most votes will face each other in November, regardless of party affiliation.

“We have about 4,600 polling places that will be open tomorrow, and about 18,000 poll workers,” Logan said.

Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

For additional information about polling places, visit the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk website.